Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-11-25
THE STORY OF THE CRIME.


GUS Tragedies.
The Haymarket riot occurred on May 4, 1886,
and was the result of Il series OF attempts made
by the anarchists to produce boodshed During
the st ie that occurred April Is, 1855, Fielden
and Parsons were familiar figures among the
dissatisfied men, urging them to resort to nrns
us q solution of their grievances At the st eet.
Cur strikes in July, 1885, and the Mccormick
strike in February, 1856 Spies and Parsons took
the initiative i'll melting the idle men to deeds
of violence.
Spies was then the editor of the Arbeitcr Zei-
t1t1lJ, a. d when not disseminating his vicious
editorials he and Parons were haransuins meet
in 9 OF strikers that were generally assembled
ut the speakers call. All these reyo utionary
attempts thus far had proved failures, and il
was not until May l, 1856, tnat au0ther suitable
opportunity for sowing anarchist;c principles,
was afforded spies and his CONTINGENCY, for by
this time Spies was the recognized leader OF the
revoluti nary movement.
At this time there was a general strike among
all classes of laborers for eight hours to const-
tute days work. It was tho greatest strike in
the annals of Chicago and the immense NUM-
Der of idle men and the extent OF the dissatis-
faction furnished an excellent opportunity for
intoxicating inhammatory doctrines. The an
archist leaders perceived this opportunity ana
made the most OF it.
On the Sd Of May the strikers from McCor-
mick's machne-shors gathered ON Blue Island
avenue near that establishments, proelaiming
their alleged wrongs. Spies appeared in the
throng and haransued the crowd in an in am
mat ry speech urging them to resort to arms.
int, nse excitement ensued, and the snrag ID
strikers attacked the shops. The appearance OF
the police prevented amy disastrous results.
though during that day several more attemPte
| were made to demoish the building. Several
workmen were injured by the efforts of the po-
lice to preserve order IND this tended to agsra-
After this distur oance hid fairly been set in
motion Spies fled o tho office of the Arbeater
zsat.3g and issued me notorious w., .Klevenge &c
to arms" and closed with "To arms We call
you to arnlsi" This circular was dis ribnted
among the eiligerent strikers, and was thou hit
to ha g had tremendous influence in nerving
the men for tho subsequent fray at the Hay
market.
On the following day, May 4, Infatuated work.
psnen c. ntinued to prowl around the neigh
purhood of the Mccormick shops, and were only
restrained by the presence of the police. A cir
cuar, asserted to have been written, printed,
and circulated under the supervision of Spies
| and his allies was scattered among them.
| This circular was addressed to workngmen
| and announced q mass-meeting to take place
| on the following night at Haymarket square.
I! this CALL and packed the square with eager
spectators The speakers did not appear till
early9 O'clock when they, mounted wagon
on Desplnines street at the north entrance
to the square. 1t was estimated that two
thousand people were present when Spies,
and FssSn pGki The Their two
terances. This is accounted for by. some
by tine presence Of Mayor Harrison. who had
been urged to prohibit the meeting When it i
auditors to q high pitch of excitement oy his
inianmatory words. He advised them to
throttle and kill the law" Capts oniield
and Ward. who were holding police in reudi-
ness to quell any disturbance that should take
place. considered this the proper time for
action Al the head OF seven .ha COM
tains marched up Desplaires street to
the speakers wagon. Fielden, seeing the
81 ,ieo odh ain You do your duty ana III do
mne!" Capt. Ward then gave the order to dis
perse pea eably." I'VE are peaceable. replied
was thrown and exploded with a roar that was
audible for two miles. Officer Matthias J.
began and an anarchist named histlel
tally injured and sixty others received injuries
that incapacitated them for duty for many
weeks. Neighboring buildings We're shaken to
were driven in confusion. They recovered
themselves however, and, after using their re-
volvers and batons SO freely rs to fill the air
with groans of the wounded, succeeded in quell-
ing the disturbance
Spies, schwab and Fischer were arrested the
following morning, and on May II q grand jury.
against Spies. Parsons, Fielder, Schnaubelt
/ is, her, Lingg, Ensel, Schwab, Neebe Anton
HirscnDerser and John APPEL. The two last and
schnaubelt were released, though it is nov
supposed that Schnaubelt threw the bomb. The
rest were held without bail.
The trial began on June 81, Judge Gary pre-
siding. The leading counsel for the ne prosecu
Captain w. p. Black. On the first day OF the
trial Parsons surrendered himself Till July
IL was consumed in ilnpanelng u jury, and
evide nee was heard till Aug Il. On this date
the attorneys began to argue the case and con
cluded on the 18th. when the case was eiven t.
the Jury. At 10 o'clock u. ~, Aug. 20, 15S tbs
jury returned a verdict of guilty, fixing Neel'ei
punshme!ss at fifteen ,yeurs in the pen ten
tiary and sentencing the others to be hanged
| motion was Immediately made by the coun
sci for the defense for new trial, but Judg<
Cary refused to grant it. They succeeded. how
ever, in obtaining from Judge Scott of tho s., Su
preme Court supersedeas en- Now r. Thu
cuse was then argued ut great length before thu
supreme Court of Illinois. Unfairness wal
charged the State in the selection of jurors ant
tine seizure of private papers that Judge Gar!
admitted us valid evidence. The Supreme Cour
rendered its decision on Sept IA last, sustain
ng the decision of tho lower court The mex
step was to get the case before the Unites
States Supreme Court. This application WA
IL AIDE on tho charge that the defendants wer'
not accorded due process of law, and that thu
Illinois jury law was unconstitutional. Gems
Pryor and Butler and j. Randolph Tucker ar
gued the case for the anarchists, but the cour
declared the jury law to be Institutional; thu
it did not have jurisdiction i'll the case, thu
sustaining the decision of the Illinois Supreme
, Court sentencing the seven anarchists to b.
, hanged on Nov. II.